May 15, 1927 - August 31, 2019
Matt Karcz of Grand Forks, BC passed away August 31, 2019 in Boundary Hospital. He was born in Burletka, Poland, where he grew up and attended school.
When Germany invaded Poland in 1939, Matt took part in resistance activities against the invading army. He was arrested by the NaziÃs in 1942 and sent to a work camp. Later that year he was liberated from the camp by a Catholic priest and sent to a prison work farm in Austria. In 1944 he went to Italy where he was picked up by a British army patrol. Matt spent the next 3 years in the 2nd Polish Corp of the allied army driving trucks throughout Europe and Britain. These were some of the happiest days of his life.
In 1949, Matt immigrated to Canada to work on a farm in Saskatchewan. He met the love of his life, Celine Thieven and they wed in holy matrimony in 1951. They enjoyed 59 happy years together until 2010 when Celine passed away.
During their marriage, the family moved between Regina, Chicago, Christina Lake and Grand Forks. Matt worked at many jobs; mostly construction based, and built a number of houses, enjoying carpentry and woodworking. Matt lived in the Catholic faith and was once a member of the Knights of Columbus and the parish choir. Matt was fluent in Polish, English and German and could also communicate in Italian, Ukrainian and Czech.
Matt is predeceased by his older brothers Edward and Casey and by his older sister Julia and younger sister Helene. Matt is survived by his daughter Genia of Mississauga, Ontario and son Ben of Nelson, B.C., and 3 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.